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Fluorine-containing thermo-sensitive microgels as carrier systems for biomacromolecules
Yuanyuan An1, Lingfei Zhang, Shengdong Xiong
1Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|January 3, 2012
Summary
Fluorinated N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) microgels exhibit enhanced stability and retain temperature-responsiveness. These novel microgels show potential for biomacromolecule delivery systems.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials
Background:
- N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) based microgels are known for their thermosensitive properties.
- Incorporating fluorine into polymer structures can modify material properties such as stability and hydrophobicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel fluorinated NIPAAm microgels.
- To investigate the effect of fluorine incorporation on microgel properties, including stability, monodispersity, and temperature-responsiveness.
- To explore the potential of these microgels as carriers for biomacromolecules.
Main Methods:
- Microgel synthesis using 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFMA) and NIPAAm.
- Characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR).
- Morphological analysis via transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
- Thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS).
- Biomolecule interaction studies using fluorescence spectroscopy with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA).
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of nanometer-diameter microgels incorporating HFMA and NIPAAm.
- FTIR and (1)H NMR confirmed the composition and structure of the synthesized microgels.
- TEM revealed that fluorine incorporation significantly improved microgel stability and monodispersity.
- DSC and PCS demonstrated that the fluorinated microgels maintained temperature-responsiveness, with a notable decrease in the lower critical solution temperature (LCST).
- PCS indicated characteristic swelling and absorption behaviors.
- Fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed the binding capability of microgel particles with BSA.
Conclusions:
- Fluorinated NIPAAm microgels offer improved stability and monodispersity compared to non-fluorinated counterparts.
- These microgels retain significant temperature-responsive behavior, with tunable LCST due to fluorine content.
- The ability to bind with BSA highlights the potential of these advanced materials in biomacromolecule carrier and delivery systems.
